# Create a knowledge base and import material

Open **Resource Center → Knowledge Bases** and select the creation action. The list also provides search, filters, status, and additional actions. Creation starts with basic information, followed by source selection.

## 1. Enter basic information

The name is required and supports up to 255 characters. Name the information scope, such as “Product manuals” or “Sales business rules.” Use remarks for purpose and maintenance notes. Advanced settings include an image-indexing switch; configure it if you need to retrieve image content.

## 2. Select the source

| Entry | Suitable material | What to check |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Local upload → Unstructured | Documents, images, audio, or video | Select files or folders, or drag files into the upload area, then wait for parsing |
| Local upload → Structured | CSV, XLSX, and other supported tables | Review imported tables and data in the import interface |
| Select from Catalog | Material already managed in Catalog | Select target resources and verify their scope before submitting |

Follow the upload prompt for format and size limits after selecting a type. Import CSV or XLSX as structured data when you need row-and-column queries. Use the unstructured workflow for narrative documents.

## 3. Check creation and processing

Find the new knowledge base in the list and open details to inspect file or table counts. For documents, wait until each target file changes from processing to completed, then inspect its preview and chunks.

Start with a short test document containing a unique fact, such as an invented term and identifier. After processing, ask about that identifier to help distinguish retrieval from general model knowledge.

Next: [Manage material](manage-files.md), then [bind and validate answers](browse-bind-kb.md).